Coin tray



Oct. 7,1941. W. N- STOKES 2,257,891

COIN 'TRAY Filed Feb. 2l, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l Snventor:

.2 1 :Jg: 4 W/LL/AM M570/(Es Gttorneg Oct. 7, 1941.

W. N. sToKEs 2.257,89]

COIN TRAY Filed Feb. ,21,` 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 3 r Imventor; :.75:j W/LL/AM/Y5TOKE5 www Patented Oct. 7, 1941 T oFF-lies 2,257,891 Voo'INy TRAY william N. stakes, charrette, N. o. Appiicatitn February 21, 1Mo, serial No. 320,126

2 Gianna (o1. 13s-11) This invention relates to an improved coin tray which is adapted to accommodate units of coins, either in a Wrapped or unwrapped condition. In order to properly handle coins in banks or in other financial institutions, it lis often desirable to provide containers for receiving and holding coins in a face-to-face position. As a general rule, loose coins are assembled in units comprising a given number and then placed on edge in a transverse groove, the length of which is substantially equal to theV combined thicknesses of the coins -in the unit. The number of coins in a unit is usually such that a person can grasp the end coins and press the same towards each other with a sufficient pressure to retain all the coins in assembled positi'on,dur'ng the removing or inserting of the coins in the groove. l,

Often units of coins are wrapped in paper or other material. By using a wrapper, it isprac'tical to place afgood many more `coins together because the wrapping vholds the coins in position. In the present instance, it isdesirable to place twice as many coins in a wrapped unit as arel placed in an unwrapped unit. y y

It is, therefore, an object of vthis invention to provide a coin tray having transverse grooves in the bottom in which units of coins are placed, and a removable longitudinal partition for bisecting the grooves so that two units of unwrapped coins can be placed in each groove, one on each side of the partition. By removing the partition, it is possible to place a long unit of Wrapped coins in each groove. In other words, when the partition is removed, two grooves are merged into one and therefore, a unit containing twice as many coins may be placed in each groove merely by wrapping the coins `in a piece of paper to hold them together. Y

Coin trays as above described are adapted to be superposed, one upon the other, thereby making the contents of the lower trays practically invisible from the outside. In order to furnish a suitable indicating means, which will enable a person to ascertain whether or not `a particular tray contains Wrapped or unwrapped coins, the partition is allowed to project through the front end wall of the tray and have a special marking thereon, which when observed, will indicate that each groove in the tray is divided so that only short o1" small units of coins can be placed therein. On the other hand, if the partition is removed so that long units of coins can be placed therein, a hole will appear where the end of the' partition formerly penetrated.

Some of the objects of the inventionghaving been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a coin tray,l assembly showing units of coins therein and also showing the removable partition separatingthe units of coins in each groove;

Figure 2 is an elevation looking at the, right hand end of Figure l showing a plurality of coin trays superposed one upon the other;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional along the line3-3 in `Figure 2; l

Figure 4 is a vertical, transverse sectional view taken alongthe linel 4- in Figure 3; A

Figure 5 is a plan View similar to Figure 1, but showing the partition removed and some rof the transverse grooves filled with packages of wrapped coin-s; Y

Figure is aview looking at the right hand end `of Figure 5 showing the opening through which the` partition is inserted and removed;` Y

Figure 7 is va transverse sectional view taken along the line T--1 in Figure 5;

View taken Figure 8 is a plan View of a slightly form of coin tray showing the same filled with short andlong units of coins;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional along the line S-Q in Figure 8. Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral I denotes a rectangular Y container View taken which is preferably stamped from a suitable light weight material vsuch as aluminum and thelike. The bottom of the container has secured thereto a pair of corrugated plates H eachv of which` has parallel arcuate grooves l2 therein (Figure 5,)I ofsuch a radius as to t `the periphery of coins I4. The plates Il are so positioned in the con; tainer that the respective arcuate grooves l2 therein are inalinement with each other. In

other words, the centers of the radii of the alined grooves in each plate lie in the same straight line. l

The plates Il are also positioned within Ithe, container lil vso that a substantial clearance will be present between their proximate edges thereby forming a groove l5 in which a partition Ui is adapted to slide. W'hen this partition is in an inserted position, the left hand end thereofr (Figures-l and 3) is adapted to penetratea slot' Via, in an inverted U-shaped member I'ifwhich is placed at `the end of the container. A similar inverted U-shaped member i8 isprcvided at the other end of the container and on the inside thereof.; These U-shaped members are secured to the end walls by any suitable means such as rivets I9 and 20, respectively. 'Ihe U-shaped member I8 and the end of the container I 0 has a suitable slot 2| cut therein which will allow the partition I6 to slide therethrough. It is seen by observing Figure 3 that this slot has a substantial amount of clearance present between the upper side of the partition I6 and the upper portion ofthe slot 2|. It will also be noted that the end of the partition I6 has a notch 22 cut therein, and when the partition is inserted the maximum amount within the container, the notch 22 serves to engage the interior of the right-hand end wall of the container to hold the :same in position. When it is desired to remove fthe partition it is only necessary to raise the 'right-hand projected end of the partition I6 upwardly in the slot 2| and then when the notch 22 clears the lower side of the slot 2| in the end wall, the partition may be moved to the right and withdrawn from the container. In order to easily ascertain whether the partition |6 is inserted within the container or withdrawn therefrom', it is preferable to paint the end of the partition as at |6a. with a suitable color so as to make it clearly visible, that is, to form a contrast between the end of the partition and the end wall. When these trays are assembled in the manner shown in Figure 3, almost the entire upper surface of each of the covered trays is invisible thereby making it necessary to look at the colored ends |60, of the partitions I6 to ascertain whether short units of coins or long units of coins are disposed in the covered trays.

The inverted U-shaped member I8 has integral therewith, a suitable corrugated handle 25 which projects over the end wall of the container and serves as a handle when the container is moved from place to place. Very often it is necessary to economize space by superposing one container upon the other. This may be done by providing suitable projections 26 on the bottom of each container, said projections being adapted to t into cavities 21 which are disposed in the upper side of inverted U-shaped members II and I8 in the container therebelow.

The sidewalls of each container have arcuate notches 28 cut therein which provide a space for ones fingers when engaging the end coins of a unit. Figure l shows the container filled with unwrapped coins, there being two units of coins in each groove, one unit on each side of the partition I6. As heretofore stated, it is necessary to make `coins in short units when they are unwrapped. If the' coins are stacked in extremely long units, it is difiicult to apply enough pressure upon the end coins so as to hold the unit in position when handling the same.

When it is desired to use a tray for long units of coins it is preferable to wrap them in a suitable covering such as paper. The packages of wrapped coins are indicated by the reference character 36 in Figure 5. Of course when the long wrapped units of coins are placed in the container, the partition I6 must be removed thereby making it possible for the wrapped packages 33 to extend from one sidewall to the other of the container. It is to be understood, however, that short units of wrapped coins might just as well be placed in the container with the partition i6 disposed therein, but since a small number of coins can be handled just as easily without wrapping it is not often the practice to do so.

' Figures 8 and 9 show a container 35 of a slightly different type, yet the construction is in many respects similar; consequently like reference characters will apply to like parts and a description will be made only of the parts of the structure that differ. This type of coin tray is made for use where it is desired to place both long units and short units of coins in the tray at the same time. In order to accommodate a condition of this type, a slightly diiferent type of partition 36 is provided. This partition does not extend the entire length of the tray. The right hand end of this partition has a notch 36a which iits into the slot 2| in the same manner as previously described in connection with the partition I6. It is seen that the left hand end of the partition 36 is hollow and has a cavity 38 therein into which the free end of the leaf spring 39 is adapted to t when the partition is inserted the full amount. The spring 3S is removably secured to the bottom of container 35 by any suitable means such as screw 39a. To withdraw this partition and make all of the grooves in the tray capable of holding elongated wrapped coin packages. it is necessary to raise 'the right hand end of the partition upwardly so that the notch 36a will clear the lower side of the notch 2| and then the partition is moved to the right.

It is therefore seen that I have provided a coin tray which is capable of holding either units of wrapped or unwrapped coins, said tray being light-weight in construction, stream-lined in effect, economical to manfacture, efficient in operation, and so constructed as to be capable of being superposed one upon the other to conserve oiice space. I have also provided a tray having a dual function of containing both elongated units of coins and short units of coins. This tray is convertible so as to be capable of being used entirely as a short unit coin tray or as a long unit coin tray.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specinc terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A rectangular coin tray having a bottom and side walls and end walls stamped from one piece of metal, an inverted U-shaped member disposed Iat each end of the tray and having one leg thereof tting flush against the end wall and secured thereto, a pair of corrugated metallic false bottom members secured to the bottom of the tray and providing alined transverse grooves for the reception of coins, said bottom members being spaced from each other to provide a longitudinally disposed groove, the U-shaped members and one of the end walls having a hole coinciding with said groove but having its bottom portion disposed above the bottom of the groove, an elongated member adapted to t into said groove and to project above the highest points of vthe corrugated false bottom members, the holes in `the U-shaped members and the end wall being of substantially greater height than the height of the elongated member, said elongated member having a shoulder on its lower surface adjacent the end thereof disposed adjacent the hole in the end wall so that the elongated member can be removed from its groove after it is lifted to cause its shoulder to clear the end wall dening the lower portion of the hole in the end wall.

2. A rectangular coin tray having a bottom and sidewalls, a pair of corrugated metallic false bottom members disposed in the bott-om of the trays to provide transverse grooves for the reception of coins, said false bottom members being spaced from each other to form a longitudinally disposed slot, a partition member removably disposed in said slot, horizontal planular portions disposed at each end of the tray and in substantially the same horizontal plane as the top edges of the end Walls and side Walls, vertically disposed walls extending from the proximate edges of the planular portions to the bottom of the tray and against which the ends of false bottom members t, one of the planular portions having a lip extending from one end of the tray and serving as a handle.

WILLIAM N. STOKES. 

